The Year of Game 7: High Stakes in the NBA Playoffs

The NBA playoffs this year have become the year of Game 7, with five series culminating in the ultimate showdown. This weekend, San Antonio will travel to Oklahoma City for Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. This number of Game 7s matches the record set in 1994, 2014, and 2016.

Home teams historically excel in Game 7s in the NBA playoffs, with a record of 117 wins and 42 losses out of 159 games. However, this year has seen a remarkable trend, with three playoff series already being won by visiting teams. The San Antonio Spurs will try to add to that tally on Saturday.

Game 7 Records

Looking at individual franchise histories, Oklahoma City has an overall Game 7 record of 4-2 since moving to its current location, winning all four home matches decisively. Their most recent home Game 7 victory was part of the last season’s NBA Finals. By contrast, the Spurs have a 4-7 overall record in Game 7s and have struggled on the road, winning only once in 2008 against New Orleans.

Game 7 Birthday Facts

Beyond records, there is an unusual phenomenon involving birthdays and Game 7s in the NBA playoffs. Remarkably, no player has ever lost a playoff Game 7 when the game falls on their birthday. On Saturday, Spurs forward Harrison Barnes turns 34, which might bode well for San Antonio. The last player who won on his birthday was Paul George on May 2, earlier this year.

Players who have celebrated similar successes include Pablo Prigoni with Houston in 2015, Udonis Haslem with Miami in 2012, Kevin Garnett with Minnesota in 2004, Scott Hastings with Detroit in 1990, and Walt Hazzard with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1966.

The Rare 12-Game Season Series

The upcoming Game 7 marks the 12th encounter this season between Oklahoma City and San Antonio. This is a rarity; previous seasons did not allow more than 11 matchups between any two teams. The addition of the NBA Cup has changed this, enabling a 12-game season series.

The only previous cases of teams playing 12 times in a season include Golden State and Houston last year. Most historically, teams met much more frequently, such as during the 1959-60 season when the Minneapolis Lakers faced the St. Louis Hawks 20 times.

This particular Game 7 promises to write yet another chapter in the evolving history of NBA playoffs.